Bio-Techne Co. (NASDAQ:TECH) Shares Bought by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in Bio-Techne Co. (NASDAQ:TECH - Free Report) by 5.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 953,786 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after purchasing an additional 53,217 shares during the quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned approximately 0.60% of Bio-Techne worth $68,705,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of TECH. Forum Financial Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Bio-Techne during the 4th quarter valued at $224,000. GeoWealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Bio-Techne during the fourth quarter worth about $43,000. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co increased its stake in shares of Bio-Techne by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 72,241 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $5,201,000 after purchasing an additional 979 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its holdings in shares of Bio-Techne by 104.8% during the fourth quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 4,300 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $310,000 after purchasing an additional 2,200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Osterweis Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Bio-Techne by 45.0% in the 4th quarter. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. now owns 245,731 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $17,700,000 after purchasing an additional 76,288 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.95% of the company's stock.

Bio-Techne Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of Bio-Techne stock traded up $0.86 during trading on Friday, hitting $50.49. 1,525,113 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,208,525. Bio-Techne Co. has a 52-week low of $46.01 and a 52-week high of $85.57. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $55.92 and its 200 day simple moving average is $66.95. The firm has a market cap of $7.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a current ratio of 3.94, a quick ratio of 2.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14.

Bio-Techne (NASDAQ:TECH - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The biotechnology company reported $0.35 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.38 by ($0.03). Bio-Techne had a return on equity of 12.73% and a net margin of 13.22%. On average, equities analysts predict that Bio-Techne Co. will post 1.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bio-Techne Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 17th were paid a dividend of $0.08 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.63%. Bio-Techne's payout ratio is currently 32.32%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Amy E. Herr sold 1,860 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.96, for a total transaction of $122,685.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,976 shares in the company, valued at $130,336.96. The trade was a 48.49 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 3.90% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

TECH has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of Bio-Techne from $80.00 to $70.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Robert W. Baird cut Bio-Techne from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $88.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Bio-Techne from $79.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. StockNews.com raised Bio-Techne from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Baird R W downgraded Bio-Techne from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Bio-Techne currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $81.14.

Bio-Techne Profile

Bio-Techne Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and sells life science reagents, instruments, and services for the research and clinical diagnostic markets in the United States, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Greater China, rest of Asia-Pacific, and internationally.